Zhong Ziran
Zhong Ziran | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
钟自然 | |||||||
| President of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences | |||||||
| In office March 2017 – September 2022 | |||||||
| Preceded by | Meng Xianlai | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Li Jinfa | ||||||
| Director of the China Geological Survey | |||||||
| In office July 2014 – September 2022 | |||||||
| Preceded by | Wang Min | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Li Jinfa | ||||||
| Personal details | |||||||
| Born | August 1962 (age 62–63) Tongcheng, Anhui, China | ||||||
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party (1985–2024; expelled) | ||||||
| Alma mater | Hefei University of Technology Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 钟自然 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鐘自然 | ||||||
| |||||||
Zhong Ziran (Chinese: 钟自然; born August 1962) is a former Chinese politician. As of January 2024 he was under investigation by China's top anti-corruption agency. Previously he served as president of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. He is the first senior official to be targeted by China's top anticorruption watchdog in 2024.[1] He was a representative of the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
Early life and education
Zhong was born in Tongcheng, Anhui, in August 1962.[2] After resuming the college entrance examination, in 1979, he enrolled at Hefei University of Technology, where he majored in mineral resource prospecting and exploration.[2]
Career
After graduating in 1983, he became an official of the Chemical Mine Planning and Design Institute of the Ministry of Chemical Industry.[2] He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in April 1985.[2] Between 1985 and 1991, he received his master's degree and doctor's degree both in mineralogy from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.[2]
Starting in September 1991, he served in several posts in the Mineral Development Management Bureau of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, including principal staff member, deputy director of the Legal Division, director of the Legal Division, and eventually deputy director of the bureau.[2]
After a short time as deputy director of the Oil and Gas Resources Management Office of the National Mineral Resources Commission in 1997, he was transferred to the Ministry of Land and Resources in July 1998.[2] He was director of Geological Exploration Department, in addition to serving as president of China Geological Environment Monitoring Institute.[2]
He became deputy director of the China Geological Survey in March 2007, rising to director in July 2014.[2][3] He also served as president of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences since March 2017.
Downfall
On 2 January 2024, Zhong had been suspended for "suspected serious discipline violations" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.[4]
In June 2024, Zhong was expelled from the Party and his entitlements were canceled.[5] On July 9, the Supreme People's Procuratorate made a decision to arrest Zhong Nature on suspicion of accepting bribes and intentionally leaking state secrets.[6] On October 25, he was indicted on suspicion of accepting bribes.[7]
On 17 January 2025, Zhong stood trial for bribery at the Intermediate People's Court of Ningbo. Prosecutors accused him of taking advantage of his different positions between 2011 and 2023 to seek profits for various companies and individuals, in return for bribes paid in cash or gifts worth over 23.56 million yuan ($3.28 million).[8] On April 16, he received a sentence of 13 years in prison and fine of two million yuan for corruption, and all property gained from the bribery would be turned over to the national treasury.[9]
References
- ^ 开年“首虎” 中国地质调查局原局长钟自然被查. zaobao.com.sg (in Chinese). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 钟自然兼任中国地质科学院院长，班子人数由4人增加到7人. thepaper (in Chinese). 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ Feng Huamei (冯华妹) (2 January 2024). 新年首“虎” 中国地质调查局原局长钟自然落马. caixin.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Former head of China Geological Survey under probe". 2 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "自然资源部原党组成员，中国地质调查局原党组书记、局长钟自然严重违纪违法被开除党籍". www.ccdi.gov.cn (in Chinese). 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "最高人民检察院依法对钟自然决定逮捕". www.news.cn (in Chinese). 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Wu Jingze (吴京泽) (2024-10-25). 检察机关依法对钟自然涉嫌受贿、故意泄露国家秘密案提起公诉. news.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Wang Xue (王雪) (2025-01-17). 自然资源部原党组成员、中国地质调查局原党组书记、局长钟自然受贿、故意泄露国家秘密案一审开庭. news.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Zhai Ruimin (翟瑞民) (2025-04-16). 中国地质调查局原局长钟自然被判13年，其中因故意泄露国家秘密领刑2年. jiemian.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-08-07.